The Critical Role of U.S. Mariners and the Jones Act in National Defense

OSG Mariners

By Sam Norton, CEO of Overseas Shipholding Group. A nation that chooses to prioritize a strong defense capability must recognize the critical importance of logistics to the broader mission, particularly the vital role that maritime logistics will play when the combat theatre is distant.  While some, if not many, of the assets needed to meet these requirements […]

How the Jones Act Fleet Powered Florida’s Fuel Recovery After Hurricane Milton

Crew of the Crowley Liberty wave to pilots in Louisiana as the ATB prepares to sail to Florida.

By VOICES Staff. In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the resilience of Florida’s fuel supply chain was put to the test. When the storm hit the Gulf Coast on October 9, there were concerns that fuel shortages could hit quickly throughout the state. But as we’ve seen time and again, the American maritime industry was […]

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell Receives Legislator of the Year Award

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell Accepts Legislator of the Year Award from the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force

By Great Lakes Maritime Task Force. On Monday, October 28, 2024, the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) recognized Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for her efforts advocating for the Great Lakes Navigation System and the American workers that ensure a resilient maritime supply chain which drives the nation’s economic base. “The Great Lakes are not […]

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Announces Matson Partnership to Protect Whales.

A WHOI-developed Whale Detection Camera is mounted on the deck of the Manulani. Matson vessels Manoa and Matson Kodiak have also installed WHOI’s Whale Detection Cameras to help reduce vessel strikes and gather the real-world use data WHOI needs for its research and continued technology development. (Image courtesy: Dan Zitterbart, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

By Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Ship-mounted camera systems provide real-time detection and increased response time, can reduce the number of whales killed by vessel strikes Woods Hole, Mass. (Oct. 15, 2024) – Vessel strikes and entanglement are some of the leading causes of injury and death to marine animals such as whales. Increasingly urbanized waterways, […]

Hurricane Aftermath in Florida: Fuel Deliveries Highlight Misconceptions About the Jones Act

By Sam Norton. Among the multitude of current challenges facing residents of Florida’s west coast communities hammered by back-to-back hurricanes is a widely reported shortage of gasoline.  It is predictable that Jones Act opponents will use the fuel crisis spawned by these natural disasters to recycle old tropes pinning the root cause of empty fuel stations on […]

Cleaning Up America’s Ports

By Charlie Miller.  The maritime industry is increasingly looking for more ways to achieve greater sustainability. While shipping by America’s inland and coastal waterways is extremely efficient, particularly compared to other modes of transportation, there is renewed attention to how ports can work to reduce emissions.  As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) puts it: […]

Latest National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Testament to Pennsylvanian Manufacturing

By VOICES Staff.  On September 9, 2024, the U.S. maritime community gathered at Philly Shipyard for the christening of the newest National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), Patriot State. The ship is the second of five training ships and will be delivered to Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a prestigious institution that has been training leaders of the […]

Crowley Mariners Recognized with HERO Awards by American Waterways Operators

HERO Award recipients Chief Mate George Dick (left) and Captain Michael Dockter (right) standing at the pilot house of Crowley's tug Apollo.

By Crowley. Crowley mariners have been recognized by the American Waterways Operators (AWO), the leading U.S. association for tug and barge operators, with the American Waterways Honor & Excellence in Rescue Operations (HERO) Award for helping rescue people in distress on the water in 2024. In April, mariners aboard the tugboat Guard worked quickly to […]

BOATLIFT – An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience

By VOICES Staff.   Watch the Full Documentary: About the Great Boatlift on 9/11: The “Boatlift” of 9/11 was the largest water evacuation in history. After road, tunnel, and railway closures out of New York City, over half a million people were stranded in lower Manhattan following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. […]